Conspiracy, sabotage may threaten Nigerian crude oil production target – Pipeline Team

Conspiracy with sabotage within pipeline host communities is said to have reared its ugly heads again in pipeline host communities.

This is said to be capable of slowing down Nigeria’s expectations of increased crude oil and gas outflow in 2026, even as the Iran-Israel-US war shoots up prices and revenue from the sector.

Two incidents have already been discovered by security teams working in the Eastern Corridor.

According to insiders in pipeline protection teams, it was recently gathered that at Atali axis zone 4 in Port Harcourt, two tankers were intercepted while attempting to load crude. This was said to be discovered through the effectiveness of pipeline backup intelligence system. The belief is that those trucks would have successfully loaded and moved off.

According to reports, another incident that seems to warn security and pipeline protection teams that the situation is a dangerous trend emerging on the scene took place in Bayelsa State.

Report said in Bayelsa State, at Otukpoti axis Zone 9, the team recorded yet another case of sabotage arising from negligence on the part of the surveillance guards, a situation described as totally unacceptable.

This was confirmed in Port Harcourt on Wednesday by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), the firm that protects the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP) to the Bonny export terminal and other pipeline networks crisscrossing the Eastern Oil Corridor from Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo and Abia States.

Speaking at a Stakeholders’ forum in Port Harcourt, Akpos Mezeh, General Manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations of PINL, noted that the company had discovered a new trend that looked like conspiracy and sabotage with the contractors and other vigilance group members.

He called it an unpleasant situation, saying he must use the opportunity to sound a strong warning to all their contractors and surveillance teams.

He said preliminary findings point to a possible coordinated conspiracy. “Let me be clear; once investigations are concluded, everyone found culpable will be brought to justice. No one will be spared.

“Let this serve as a clear and firm warning to all contractors and operatives that, no act of negligence, compromise, or collusion will be tolerated. Going forward, any contractor found wanting will not only lose their contract but will also face full prosecution under the law.

“At the same time, we must continue to strengthen collaboration. The community intelligence systems have significantly enhanced information flow and improved response times. We have begun strengthening and fully integrating these systems into our broader surveillance framework.”

Mozeh however gave a positive report of the oil and gas improvement since December 2025, noting that Nigeria’s energy sector remains central to national development and economic stability.

He said recent developments in the sector reflect renewed progress and growing opportunities for Nigeria’s energy future.

Quoting the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), he said: “the national oil company recorded a profit after tax of N385 billion in January 2026, generating N2.571 trillion in revenue and remitting N726 billion to the Federation Account during the same period after 1.64 million barrels per day production.

“These figures demonstrate renewed operational efficiency and improved performance across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. This improvement was driven largely by the successful completion of maintenance operations at key onshore facilities.”

He said it is dialogue communities that can boost security in oil communities; “Community partnership is national security. When communities protect infrastructure, they protect livelihoods, national revenue, and the future of our country.”